|
ICHS
Ad Astra
Yvonne Lyew Membership I.C.H.S
Executive Committee 2001 Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams Joan Chang Jeanette Chin Laura Chin Pen Claire Haynes Gloria Ho Shue Celia Butler-Lindo Donna Rutty Cathrine Sani Jilian Saweczko Ina Williams Olive Williams
GIRLS
|
Ad Astra
by Yvonne Lyew Lisa M. Narcisse, L.R.S.M., O.D., was born on May 25, 1912 in Kingston, Jamaica - the daughter of Constantia and Joseph Narcisse. She was a graduate of the Immaculate Conception High School and began her teaching career in music while still a high school student. She continued faithfully in this ministry for 48 years until her retirement in 1977.
In
recognition of her contribution to her country, she was awarded the Order of
Distinction on October 15, 1979 by the Jamaican Government.
After many years of semi-retirement in Kingston, Ontario, Lisa relocated
to Calgary, Alberta last year. It
was with great sadness and shock that we heard of her sudden death in an auto
accident on July 2, 2001. The
accident also claimed the lives of her sister-in-law, Florence Narcisse and two
friends. On Thursday, July 19, 2001 the Toronto ICHSAA held a memorial mass for Miss Narcisse at St. Aidan's Church in Scarborough. Many thanks to Deacon Patrick Chang who helped with the arrangements and Fr. Joseph Fenech, who celebrated mass and allowed us the use of St. Aidan. Our in-house Glee Club walked down the aisle to 'War March of the Priests' by Mendelssohn (our graduation march) each holding a white candle tied with blue ribbon. The ladies formed a honour guard and sang Lisa's favourite hymn -"Let There Be Peace on Earth" as her nephew, Brian Mair, carried her urn to the altar. We celebrated with Lisa's own Mento Mass accompanied by Leslie Chin on guitar and Patricia March on keyboard. Alumna, Dawn Marie James sang a stirring rendition of the "Our Father" in tribute. Happy memories were shared by Denise Mair-Bishop, Yvonne Lyew and Sr. Maureen Clare. We closed with both national anthems and the "Alma Mater" which was composed by Lisa. As a spe-cial tribute the Glee Club ended the service with their signature song -'There are highways, there are byways....... as you travel down life's road.' A small reception was held in the foyer. Lisa
Narcisse touched many lives in a very positive way. She also helped to make this world a better place with the
gift of her music, her spirituality, especially her devotion to the Sacred Heart
and the gift of her ever-present smile and gentleness. She may be gone but her legacy lives on. President's
Message My Dear Fellow Alumnae, It is with regret that I have to report the passing of our beloved music teacher, friend, confidante - Lisa Maria Narcisse, who died under tragic circumstances on July 2nd 2001. A 'Lisa
Narcisse Memorial Music Fund' has been set-up for those who would like to contribute. Proceeds are for the support of the music department at ICHS in Jamaica. Sincerely,
SR...
MARY CATHERINE AARONS VISITS TORONTO! by
Donna Rutty Sister
Mary Catherine's first visit to our alumnae was very inspiring and uplifting.
As usual, we converged on Sadie & Trevor Wong's home and were made to
feel as welcomed as family. We had
a scrumptious meal and after dinner Sr. Mary Catherine spoke of all the
marvellous things happening at our school.
By the way, Sister did not look a day older than when she taught us 'only
a few years ago". (Is a youthful look connected to no husband and no kids?
Hmmm???) On
behalf of the ICH5AA our new president, Yvonne Lyew, presented Sister with two
cheques each for $ 2000.00 for the Band Camp and for our annual contribution to
the Scholarship Fund. Tivita Skeine,
Nastassia Power, Bridgette Knight and Terry Ann Palmer are the four students
under our sponsorship. It
seems as if ICHS is going from strength to strength. We are achieving academically, coming lst in Math, Biology,
Food & Nutrition and Religious Education.
We are still maintaining our tradition of coming lst. in the swim meet.
Add to that - 4th in Math 2000, 5th in Math 2001 and 1st. in the Miami
Classics. We are a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the
field.
Music
has always been important to us as a school and as individuals.
Sister's heart seems to focus in that direction and under her leadership,
ICHS has expanded it's Arts Department. The
commercial school is no more and the building has been converted to The
Performing Arts Centre for Music and Drama with ct partition for the computer
section. Major Williams of the
Jamaica Military Band, with the assistance of Dwight Richards, instructs the
orchestra twice weekly- a full orchestra! There
are 13 music tutors including Andrew Fatt who teaches drums and Steven Woodham -
violin. We have a steel band in
which the teachers play. How come
we didn't have that option in our days?? Our
Glee Club will be entering the Festival in November 2001. We
have tennis lessons every day taught by the best coach in Jamaica, Arthur
Philpotts. The
graduation commencement now takes place at the Hilton which sounds very fancy
spancy but I have very fond memories of our graduation under the stars with Sr.
Maureen Clare telling us to glide across the room while holding our heads
and shoulders high. (Immaculate ladies at all times!) All
in all it sounds like our school is still on course graduating leaders in
every walk of life.
A
comment that was made to me by a family member was "This looks like an
ICHSAA convention'. There were so
many of you bringing food, flowers, singing and assisting us. I told my family that although they are not here enough to
physically and sometimes emotionally help, the ICHSAA girls are family and it
was a love convention. Jonathan
was a very special young man and at one point in his young life had even
considered becoming a priest which at by age 16 and the advent of girls went
through the window. He was a joy
and our strength as much as his sisters are and have been and we all miss him.
But as Camille Lai said with a bracelet that she made for me and helping
us to prepare the Mass and programme: you loved him but God needed another
angel. I think that says it all. Thank
you all for always being there. Your
friendship and love live on in all of us. Francis,
Donna, Terri Gaye, Lara and yes - Jon Jon. We extend our condolences and prayers to the families of.
Edward
Haddad, father
of Helen Haddad-Henriques Joseph
Chin Loy, father
of Charmaine Chin. Victor
Williams, father
of Celia Lindo-Butler. Wilfred
deMercado,
father
of alumna Joan Elise deMercedo and George deMercado, V.P. Air Jamaica, Miami William
Chen, father of Rose & Anne
Marie. Alfred
Chong, father-in-law
of Sharon (Wong Chew Onn) and husband, Bobby Chong. Alumna
Carole Anne Cappe (O'Connor), sister
of Yvonne, Elizabeth, Angela, Laurice
& Eleanor - leaving husband Dennis, Children Sean and Natalie. A
warm welcome and lots of hugs to ... Maya
McIntosh and Marissa Lue
Sang, grand-daughters of Joan and Ronald
(Sonny) Chang. Landed July 11th and
July 16th, respectively. Megham
Jade, daughter of Daivid and
Liz Lyew and granddaughter of our prez and proud grandmother, Yvonne.
Arrival time: 6:00am on July 24, 2001. Acknowledgment The
Narcisse family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, love, support
and many thoughtful expressions of sympathy. In
Lisa 's memory, her family has established THE LISA NARCISSE MEMORIAL MUSIC
FUND) to aid the Music Department at ICHS. Donations
may be sent to: |
|
| TOP | Yard Page | JaWeb | JaAlumni |